Today is the feast day of my Patron Saint, Thomas Aquinas also known as the Angelic Doctor for the work he did on codifying Christian Doctrine and Theology. He's known for his great work, the Summa Theologica, but also was a proponent of Aristotelean philosophy and standing in contrast to the Muslim Averroes in determining the precise meaning of Aristotelean thought. The Saint was obviously a prolific writer and besides writing the Summa wrote many prayers and hyms, the most beautiful and highly recognized being the Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi/Acllaim, MY Tonque, This Mystery.
Pange, lingua, gloriosi
Corporis mysterium
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium,
Fructus ventris genererosi,
Rex effudit gentium.
Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intacta Virgine,
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.
In supremae nocte coenae
REcumbens cum fratribus,
Observata lege plene
Cibis in legalibus,
Cibum turbae duodenae
Se dat suis manibus.
Verbum Caro panem verum
Verbo Carnem efficit;
Fit Sanguis Christi merum.
Et si sensus deficit,
Ad firmandum cor sincerum
Sola fides sufficit.
And possibly the most recognized verse from the hymn - the Tantum Ergo
Veneremur cernui.
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedit ritui.
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, Honor, Virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio.
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio.
A beautiful rendition of the Tantum Ergo
My preferred translation of the Tantum Ergo comes from none other than Wikipedia:
- Down in adoration falling,
- Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
- Lo! o'er ancient forms departing
- Newer rites of grace prevail;
- Faith for all defects supplying,
- Where the feeble senses fail.
- To the everlasting Father,
- And the Son Who reigns on high
- With the Holy Spirit proceeding
- Forth from each eternally,
- Be salvation, honor blessing,
- Might and endless majesty.
- Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment